Sagem
(Safran) announced today a contract with long-standing partner MBDA
to develop and produce the infrared seeker for the upcoming light antiship
missile, the ANL/Sea Venom, a joint French-British program launched
within the scope of the Lancaster House treaty signed in November 2010.

Developed
by MBDA, this new-generation tactical missile will be deployed by a
number of different helicopters, including the Royal Navy's AW159 Wildcat,
and the French navy's Panther Marine and NH90. It will replace current
missiles such as the Sea Skua and AS15TT.

Sagem, as prime contractor for the ANL/Sea Venom seeker, also chose
the British company Selex ES Ltd to participate in its development and
production. Sagem's seeker for the ANL/Sea Venom is based on uncooled
detectors. Operating in demanding environments, the seeker will support
the acquisition and tracking of surface targets (fast landing craft,
light combat vessels) and land targets.

The seeker will send back images to the aircraft's cockpit, contributing
to the flexibility of the ANL/Sea Venom missile and its different firing
modes: man out of the loop (MOTL), with the possibility of changing
the assigned target during the missile's flight; or choosing a precise
impact point (fire & forget, with lock-on before firing or during
the flight, etc.).

Sagem is contributing breakthrough uncooled infrared technologies to
the ANL/Sea Venom program, based on optronic systems developed for the
FELIN soldier modernization system and MMP medium-range missile programs.
A long-standing partner to MBDA, Sagem developed and produces the infrared
seekers for the Mica IR (infrared), Mistral and MMP missiles.